Locking device for wagon end-gates



(No'ModeL) J T. DUNCAN.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR WAGON END GATES. N0. 532,040. Patented Jan. 8,1895. 7

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2 2r minesses 7 172221971207"; 1 I'Duncan PATENT JOSEPH T. DUNCAN, OFDELPHOS, KANSAS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR WAGON END-GATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,040, dated January8, 1895,

Application filed January 22, 1894:. derial No. 497,706. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn '1. DUNCAN, of Delphos, Ottawa county,Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LookingDevices for Wagon-Bodies, of which the followingis a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompan yin g drawings,forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to en d-gates, and more particularly to attachmentsfor securing the end-gates in or removing them from position easily andexpeditiously relative to the wagonbody, and the object of the inventionis to produce attachments of the character which are simple, strong,durable and inexpensive of construction.

To the above purpose, my invention consists in certain peculiar andnovel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter describedand claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1.is a perspectiveview of a portion of the wagon body, the sides and end thereof beingconnected by brackets constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2. is a top plan view of the same, and showing the manner ofmanipulation necessary to disconnect the end from the sides. Fig. 3. isa horizontal sectional view of one corner of the wagon body. Fig. 4. isa vertical transverse sectional view of the lower end of a corner of thewagon body. Fig. 5. is a side elevation of the rear portion of a wagonbody, and showing a swinging gate, forming the end of the wagon body.

A portion of a wagon body is shown consisting of the bottom 1, sides 2,and end 3. This end 3 is provided with an extension 4 at each end; saidextensions 4 being hinged at 5 at their inner margins, to the outermargins of the end 3. Secured to the outer side of one of the endsections 4, is a bracket or lever 6, and secured to the outer side ofthe other end section 4, is a bracket or lever 7. These levers 6 and 7extend longitudinally of the outer side of the end 3, and theiroverlapping ends are provided with registering slots which engageastaple 8, projecting centrally from the outer side of the end-board 3,and this staple is engaged by the pivoted hook 9, carried by one of thesaid levers. When the levers 6 and 7 are thus secured against the outerside of the end-board 3, the hinged pieces 4, 4, are held rigidly inline with the said endboard 3.

Secured to the end of each side 2 of the wagon body, is a bracket 10,and this bracket is provided with the vertical and parallel arms 11,11,which, embracing the opposite sides of the said side 2, are secured insuch position by screws or other suitable means. That portion of thebracket projecting beyond the end of the sides 2 is recessed at itsinner side at 12, and said extension is formed atits outer end with ahook-portion 13; said hookportion 13 being preferably, in plan view, ofless width than the body portion of the bracket. Projecting inwardlyfrom the re? cessed side 12, of and at the lower end of said bracket, isa lug or ear 14, and this lug or ear, resting directly upon the bottomof the wagon body, has a vertical bolt 15, passed therethrough, and alsothrough the bottom of the wagon, and a retaining nut 16, engages itsprojecting and threaded end, so as to secure the side rigidly to thebottom of the wagon.

A bracket 17 is provided with the vertical parallel arms 18, whichembrace the opposite sides of each end-piece 4 of the end-board 3, andthese brackets are secured rigidly thereto by screws or other suitablemeans. Each bracket 17, is formed at its outer end with an outwardlyprojecting and vertical hookportion 19, the outer surface of which is semental, so as to operate pivotally within the recess 12 as hereinafterexplained. In order that the hook-portion 19 may fitand operate Withinthe recess 12, the lower end of the hookportion 19, is recessed or cutaway at 20, to receive the lug or car 14. The lower ends of theend-brackets 17 lie in the same plane as the lower ends of the brackets10, and upon the bottom of the wagon, and the upper ends of the brackets17 lie flush with or in the same horizontal plane as the upper ends ofthe brackets 10. The bottom of the wagon limits the downward movement ofthe end-board 3 proper, and its component parts. To prevent the saidend-board moving accidentally or being moved upward, the upper ends ofthe brackets 10 are formed, each with an outwardly projecting flange 22,the lower surfaces of which lie in the same plane with and upon theupper ends of the hook-portions 19 of the brackets 17. A continuation ofthese flanges 22, in the opposite direction, rests upon the upper sideof the metallic wearstrips, secured by screws in the usual manner uponthe npper edge of the side-portions 2 of the wagon body. In thepractical use of wagons these wear-strips become loose and thereforedangerous, and also rattle to a considerable extent in the passage ofthe wagon. With these flanges 21 bearing upon eachend of the saidstrips, itwill be impossible forthem to become loosened.

' The operation of disconnecting the endboard from the sides is asfollows: The hook 9 is disengaged from the staple 8, and the 7 ends ofthe levers 6 and 7 are pulled outward so as to'simultaneously operatethe hook-portions 19 of each bracket pivotally, and move the end-board 3bodily outward; the endboard breaking at the hingefjoints 5,.to allow ofthis movement. As the levers continue to move outward the hookportion19, of each bracket 17, is entirely disengaged from its respectivecompanion book 13. To place the end-board in position, the ends of thehook-portions 19, are introduced slightly in the recesses 12, as shownin Fig, 2. 'The levers 6 and 7, at their free ends, are now forcedinwardly until they lie and are securedagainst the outer side of the end-board 3. Projecting vertically down.- ward from the outer end of eachbracket 10, is an ear or lug 23, and these ears or lugs, occupyingrecesses 24 formed in the bottom of the wagon to receive them, beingoppositely disposed, are connected by a transverse and horizontal bolt25. Projectinginwardly from the upper end of each hook-portion 13, ofthe brackets 10, is a hook 26; the object of which will be presentlyexplained.

When it is desired to utilizethe wagon for the conveyance of stock orcorn, the end-board carrying the bracket 17 is removed. An end? board orgate 27, in depth considerably greater than the wagon body, carries.strap-irons 28, and these strap-irons, projecting inwardly from the endof said board, are formed with eyes 29, which pivotally engage thecross-bolt 25. Secured to the inner side of said end.- board or gate,are a pair of spring catches 30, or their equivalents, which engage thehooks 26, and thus support the end-board or gate in its verticalposition, as shown in Fig. 5. When used as a stock-wagon, the end-board27, is thrown pivotally in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 5, until itsfree margin rests upon the ground so as to'form an inclined chute orpassage for the stock, whether passing into or out of the wagon.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have produced meansfor securing the end-board to the sides of a wagon body, which entirelyobviates the use of cleats, rods, threaded straps, &c.; which is easy ofmanipulation and positive and reliable in operation, and which issimple,strong, durable,'and inexpensive of construction.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-.=

1. In a fastening device for end-gates, the

combination with a bracket comprising a pair of parallel arms 11,.embracing and secured to opposite sides of the. sides. of thewagonbody,a vertical and inwardly disposed hook portion 13 at its rear end, and 3.lug 22, overlapping or bridging the cavity at the front and inner sideof the.hook.-portion,of an endgate,,a section 4, hinged thereto, a levercarried by said section, and a bracketcomprising the parallel arms 18,.embracing the opposite sides and secured firmly to said hinged section,and an outwardly andrearwardly projecting hookrportion 19, engaging thefirstmentioned hook and the cavity and bearing against the bottom of thewagon and the un- JOSEPH P. DUNCAN.

lVitnesses:

G. Y. THORPE, M. R. REMLEY.

der side of the lug 22, substantially as de- 7

